Are Expensive Bike Lights a Rip Off?!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 พ.ย. 2021
- I test 4 bike lights to find out what its is worth buying and what bike lights are worth avoiding. Quick reviews of 4 popular bike lights, from Magicshine Monteer 6500, Exposure Six Pack MK11, Amazon cheap light and Magicshine MJ906SE Ebike light.
Use code EMTB10 at magicshineuk.com for 10% off your lights. This is not a paid or sponsored video and this is not an affiliate link, just a genuine discount for viewers!
Bike Lights Tested:
Amazon 6000 lumen, £26: amzn.to/2ZYFUzg
Magicshine MJ906SE, £140: bit.ly/3q5TGL3
Magicshine Monteer 6500, £290: bit.ly/3bEazEc
Exposure Six Pack MK11, £400: amzn.to/3nUwHA1
Follow Me On Instagram: / robridesemtb
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Use code EMTB10 at magicshineuk.com for 10% off your lights. This is not a paid or sponsored video and this is not an affiliate link, just a genuine discount for viewers!
Also, see them all at once for the full 20000 lumens 😂 th-cam.com/users/shortso3Waubtr8OY?feature=share
I purchased MagicShine back around 2011. Good stuff. But make sure replacement batteries are available with the right connections.
Have you raced at night? You need one on the helmet and one on the handle bars. Period. No discussion.
Don't miss the most basic of things. Look up parallax vision.
had a magic shine, the wet killed it and the importers told me to do one...better off with the cheapo aliexpress than a pseudo respectable company.
The exposure light has a reflex setting that adjusts to your riding after approx 20mins. You won’t get the full lumens unless you run it in this mode. Standard highest output is 3600 lumen.
Hahaha. They gave you the light for free?
Seriously unimpressed with this video- you've not covered any of the features on the Exposure light programmability or the display screen etc etc etc.
Hi Rob great video. Good to see all the lights compared. I have a Magicshine Monteer but put the battery in an old water bottle in my cage. You can tuck the excess cable inside. Cut down a sponge to stop it rattling. Works great. 👍🏻
I'm never dissapointed with your video's Rob and delivered with no bias and proffesionally. Keep it coming, everything and anything emtb👍
Cheers Andrew 👍
@@RobRidesEMTB my pleasure.
I've the magic shine 906 with external battery and it's plenty powerful at a relatively low price.
When connected to the ebike battery it really depends on the power system output since it changes the light output accordingly.
But the Monteer was just WOW!! Unbelievably powerful and super wide spread. Magic indeed!
It puts the exposure unit in the shadow. literally...
Excellent review, super informative and honest
Great video Rob! I've bent doing some night riding in the Utah desert where I live and I've been thinking of a light upgrade. Looks like a massive improvement over what I currently have. Again, thanks! BTW, night riding is such a different experience. Hard to explain but it took me a while to get comfortable doing it, even though I was on trails I knew really well. It's just so different...
Fantastic vid as ever Rob. Ya know what, every time you turned that light off and back in again, I was expecting to see a dark figure stood in the trees. I’d have hit the roof I did. Winter gear advice would be a great idea this time of year. 👍🏽
Thought this was a really good effort as a light comparison video based on others. I’ve had an exposure 6 pack for about 5 years and works very well. I think this missed the mark a little in not comparing battery life, features and issues such as heat management and recharge times for example. Brightest lights that can only run for 30 mins doesn’t hit the mark. Warranty and other services such as the very good model that exposure have should also factor, that is part why the cost is high. I didn’t want additional cables and batteries which influenced my decision. But overall well done rob,
Great vid Rob and nice to see you’ve included a cheap light as a comparison as every other test I’ve seen or read tends to overlook these cheapies. I’ve tried loads of different lights and the one I use and thoroughly recommend is the Moon Meteor Storm Pro, plenty of lumens for technical riding and an amazing battery life (internal battery). It also has a remote switch which is superb for changing modes on the go and best of all you can pick them up for under £90
I have/had a Moon brand light as well , its probably 4 or 5 years old now , but mine also came with the remote hi low beam switch( cool feature ) , it came in an alloy like camera case with all the bits and pieces , i cant remember how many lumens it was , but at the time it was a high end model ( and cost about $400 Australian ) , and on low beam it was a nice beam with good width that i happily used on the road and it did not dazzle oncoming drivers , on high beam it was a very good flood light for night riding with enough penetration to safely ride at a fair clip.
On high beam it would go for about an hour , and of course would run longer on low beam alone , and it had different flashing modes as well .
I dont think it had quite the power of the brightest one Rob just showed us , but it was still quite good , and i would still be happy to use it .
I donated my mountain bike to my young brother 20 years my junior as age is getting to me , and diamond frames kill me now , im looking to get a recumbent trike down the track before i cark it :) , and i will set up again.
I liked the moon product , i would buy another .
I just watched a video on that Moon Meteor. It's fucking terrible. Can barely see anything in front. It's worse than the Amazon one displayed in this video.
Thanks for the discount code Rob! I’ve been looking to get an ebike specific light and after having a look on the magic shine site, I’ve gone for the 906SE. 4500lm. £142 for the light and cable (+shipping) including discount. Had a quick look on TH-cam for the light and it looks brilliant. Cheers 👍🏻
One of the best light comparison videos I've seen, good job! I'm a Lupine fan (have Lupine Wilma), but have been looking at the Magicshine lights lately, as they seem to do some really bright lights for much less than Lupine.
Magicshine make up their lumen numbers.
Many thanks for the great review. Your reviews are consistently some of the best out there and so helpful when trying to decide on a purchase. I've just purchased a Magicshine Monteer 6500S using your discount code, thank you for this. Keep doing what you do, all the best...
Run time is important, would have been good to just leave them on and let us know how that went
I agree. There are also limitations to how long lights can sustain a high lumen rating due to overheating.
This. And also other features such as controls, the possibility of adjusting modes, heat management, reliability etc.
Hey Rob, great video. I actually use the Amazon light atop my helmet to take care of any “spread” issues. Wherever I turn my head, the light follows so it’s less of an issue. I also have another mounted on my bars. The two in combo work brilliantly for budget minded people. Cheers.
This!
This is what I have - medium light on the bars, strong light on my head. Ceco Amazon lights are cheap enough to double up.
That’s sounds like the best option and budget too!!
A helmet light is an absolute godsend. Nothing better than being able to spot your line through corners, can't do that with bar lights.
@@andrewince8824 what helmet light do you have/ recommend please?
Great Video Rob as always. Helps especially to see in real time how the lights perform. Just shows you the cheaper alternatives sometimes work
Enlightening ! Nice Job Rob, best comparison I've seen - really nicely put together video.
Great vid Rob,when I saw all the lights on the bar at the same time it reminded me of my days on my Grifter with a full compliment of 4 ever ready front lights and 2 rear lights Rallye stylee lol🤣
Good video Rob. Thanks for pointing out that you were only getting 1800 Lumens from your MagicShine MJ906SE in your tests, instead of the 4500 Lumens that this light can output on a higher output power source. It’s pretty cool how this light will automatically adjust it’s light output to match the power that the Ebike system provides it. Eliminates the math required to figure out if the light will be compatible with your ebike. Great work Magicshine. I will be upgrading my Bosch ebike light to the Magicshine ME 2000 soon.
Great vlog Rob as I've been thinking about purchasing a light.. I especially liked the bit where you coming out of the forest saying don't be like me..made me laugh that lol..
Dear Rob I would like to thankyou . After watching your video I ordered a Majicshine Monteer 650. I got it on a black friday deal It came up in us $ dollars which confused me it also took over3 weeks to arrive. I gave it to my son for christmas . We had a night out on the local trails and it was fantastic no it was better than that .so thanks again.
Nice reviews that everyone can relate to. Would love to have a video of your thoughts/comparison between different bike alarms for those commuting on an ebike. Thanks
Bonjour Rob
I bought Lupine lighting. It's expensive but worth it. And some products don't need batteries because you connect it to the battery of your bike. It works fine with Brose, Bosch and Yamaha motors. And great quality.
Thanks again for your videos. They are f... great.
Mathieu d'Aix en Provence (south of France) 🤟🤟😉
Great video and non-biased as ever, I have had both the Magicshines and Exposures over the past 8 years, the Maginshines I had were the older versions but were still great lights, and if I'm honest still work to this day (6 years old) although the battery life has dropped from 2 hours to about 1 hour now but still a good light all the same - I now run though an Exposure Maxx-D on the bars and Diablo on the helmet - 2 lights for around £500 5 years ago, both still operate at 100% battery life and output - also Exposure warranty is second to none - £25 for a fix-up and bulb warranty is excellent - I'm not saying not to buy the Magicshine but for £100 more and no battery or cables or attachments etc and full warranty I would go exposure all day long!
Great video, I agree the 6500 model was very impressive. I have the Exposure six pack MK10 (previous model) and it's always been enough for my rides in the woods etc. but I have it paired with a Diablo on my helmet for looking into corners etc. I think some of the cost of the bigger Exposure lights is the built in system that can adjust the output automatically depending on speed, how bumpy the terrain is and if you are climbing or descending. I bought this because I hate having packs and wires all over the place and it's built like a tank. It's chunky but if you keep it reasonably close to the centre (stem) you don't really feel it.
So while I agree exposures are expensive however the company back their kit so if anything happens they help. We had to have one rebuilt and they did it for about £40 out of warranty. They are brilliant to deal with and the mode and trail tracking makes a huge difference on our inclosed trails.
£440 for a rebuilt bike light?
No, husband had damaged it in a serious off. The cabling had taken alot of the shock. The company were brilliant to deal with, they also support our mtb races up here.
£50 at Halfords got me a 1600 lumen light. I have never needed more. I do a lot of riding in the dark, over dunes and through forests. Run time is good, modes are good. It can be used as a power bank. It's a little bit heavy and takes a while to charge but the best endorsement I can give is that if I lost it now, I wouldn't even research I'd go straight to Halfords and buy another. I also have a "Moon" front light that I paid around £100 for and the Halford one beats it easily. I have heard the Halfords unit was made by Garmin but I've never verified that.
Hope this helps.
Ben, I'm confused was this reply meant for myself? Exposure do lights for the puffer race so anything happens they are on site which is really good for the racers.
Halfords can be useful but I'm also married to a local bike shops senior mechanic so buying lights means I go to them. Same as bike computers 🙂
Hi Rob,I have the six pack and it has an accelerometer built in.when stopped the light I think drops to 3600 lumen and only when you move does it increase to 5000 lumen.i could be wrong though. Also the battery life is unreal.
Same I have the six pack and Diablo for the helmet. The six pack also has reflex mode which brightens up on faster descents and dims down when you are stopped. Like you said, the battery lasts forever! No other light has an accelerometer built in. I admit the spread isn’t the best there is out there but even so it’s still more than enough.
I believe mode 4 avoids the reflex and puts out the full 5000. Wonder if he did the test with reflex on or off :/
You can quite easily fit a diffuser on the chep light. I've done that and it is a massive difference. Takes away the bright spot in the middle. Add another light on your helmet without diffuser and you get a decent light set up at a very nice price.
The only post to show any initiative. Top marks.
what diffuser did you use? ive been thinking about that
@@thelethalmoo I replaced the glass with a piece of the plastic casing from a garage roof lamp. It's full of smal kind of prisms and spreads the light nice without too much damping. Just unscrew the front of the lamp and cut out a piece that fits..
As a photographer, any form of diffusion will lower light output. Even tracing paper can decrease light output by a stop (50%) or more.
Bloody awesome review - such a clear difference between the 4 models. There's a LOT of time that goes into making these reviews so thanks for taking the time to post this: you've just made my decision clear: I reckon 2 of those cheap Amazon lights ANGLED on the handlebars PLUS one on the helmet would fix the spread issues ... although not as great distance for throw. That said, I'm lucky enough to be able to afford it so ... Magicshine Monteer is the way for me - well worth it just to have a single unit - even without your discount (and thanks for arranging that too!). I'm actually riding with a Topeak Moonshine from wayyyyyyy y back in the day ... it still rocks. But the new light is for my son so he's gonna get the technology improvements. Thanks for your review.
Great real world review Rob.... please keep them coming!
Hi Rob good review mate, just to add to your review exposure may be the most expensive but their customer service is legendary 👌 sometimes thats worth the extra I have 4 exposure light that have been bounced down countless runs and they never miss a beat 😀 if you want to get a cheaper 6 pack go to their factory seconds page. I nabbed a 6 pack for just over 300 squidlies 👍👊
Good video Rob , being able to see can be the difference between being seen , or seeing that obstacle on the road or track and in the distance that could make the difference between having a very good ride at night , or having a really really bad night .
Cheers .
Great video for the spread and brightness of lights. I have always gone with Hope or Exposure because they last year after year through really messy winters and salty roads. It's all about how many years they last.
Yes and I think Exposure are pretty good at being able to repair or replace parts and things like batteries on their lights and have a great warranty. They keep spares for older models and try to get you going again if something eventually fails. Not sure about Hope lights but they are a brand I've always liked and would trust.
Great review Rob. Need a new light so I've just ordered a magic shine Monteer with your discount code so thanks . Look forward t trying it out.
This video couldn't have come at a better time for me as I'm looking to upgrade my light set up. Thanks for the information 👍
Currently using a combo from a tiny company here in the States called Outbound Lighting. Fully self-contained, amazing optics, and the option for pass through charging.
The Amazon light has larger batteries available for £10 each the ones i bought are in a plastic cover and are almost water proof .a bit of blue tack on the handle bars is a good idea to stop the light moveing .thanks for a great video.
Excellent video. I have a cheap Amazon light and a more expensive Bontrager and NiteRider. The cheap $35 Amazon light is actually pretty good and great value for the money. But what I find is that I don't need to use them in the brightest settings very often. Your eyes adapt to lower light and I also usually ride with other people so there's light from the other bikes too. One thing for sure, night riding is super fun!
I am still running an Exposure Toro from 2012, and an Exposure Joystick from 2010. No faults, no maintenance, they both still work after thousands and thousands of miles of commuting nearly 40 miles a day.
Expensive yes, but worth every penny.
Really appropriate as I’ve been struggling with lack on light on the trail and will heed your advice.
The battery is probably the most important and most expensive component in any light setup. Would have been useful to show max power run time vs charge time (which makes your eBike light crazy expensive as there's no battery or charger🙈)
Personally I prefer the bar mount light to be as wide as possible and have a lid mount to light wherever I'm actually looking
Достаточно иметь качественную фару(светодиоды,правильную температуру света и оптимальный угол вторичной оптики)с разъёмом Type C и подключение кабелем к Power Bank(например Xiaomi НА 20000 mAh)....It is enough to have a high-quality headlight (LEDs, the correct light temperature and the optimal angle of the secondary optics) with a Type C connector and a cable connection to the Power Bank (for example, Xiaomi ON 20000 mAh) ....
@@KlimChugunkin888 Would Xiaomi or similar work for a bike light voltage range of my is 5Volt - 8.4Volt?
@@allpal3077 5V/9V/12V/15V/20V
Thanks. You just helped me with my decision. I was going to get the Magicshine (maybe even the new 8000 version) but have decided to get the Exposure one because I'm mainly doing road riding and the spotlight effect is actually better in a lot of cases, although have that exact £26 one and the spot is too harsh but also weak at the same time. However, once I get my MTB back in action and a few more paychecks in the bank I'll be going for the Magicshine for some off-roading as that wide field looks awesome.
It's think the Exposure is a bit overkill for road cycling isn't it, even if you're super fast.
I have an exposure MaxxD, it has an intelligent mode that saves battery by dimming when stationary, ascending or going slower, it takes a while to calibrate. I think you might get better results from the Exposure after a longer test with different modes. Its a great light but would be improved with usb-c and a simpler mode selection method. I have to read the manual every time I turn it off. Also the rubber bung that seals the charge port takes about 10 attempts to close, very annoying.
Yes, I think it calibrates while you ride for something like the first ten minutes but I can't remember. I have the Six pack MK10 which has the same thing. It tends to only pump out something like 3000 lumens unless it thinks you need really need more and as you say less if going slow or climbing.
The rubber bung can be a fiddle 😂👍
Will a bit of silicon spray on the plug and it's easier to do up. Also top tip is make sure that the green light is on your charger before you plug into charge to keep your mode settings.
Rob great review. I have the Magicshine 6500 and it is brilliant. Also being able to choose between 3 different modes allows for the light to work all night long. I started off with the cheap eBay lights and they are good value for money but after a while they do fail, but they are cheap..
Bought two Magicshine 6500, one for the handlebar and one for the helmet. Let there be light!! 😁
in will be a bit heavy for helmet you will feel it .. MJ-906S this is one perfect for helmet 4500lumens small light beast :D
for mtb I can see having lights this bright, I have the ion 1300 from bontrager, perfect for commuting. you'd blind drivers with some of those lights, that 650 is a great light.
Tnx for sharing Rob! Helped me a lot in choosing which light works best
Well done Rob, Ive been doing same testing here in northeast USA
I've been using some of those Amazon cheapo lights. Batteries are definitely their low point but are cheap enough to replace. Also the ones I have offer different filters to adjust the beam pattern. So I have a Bontrager Ion 1300 on the helmet and the cheapo with a wide pattern filter on the bars and its a pretty great combo for the money.
I have been through a couple of chaeapo lights so I just bought the exposure mk11 for a great price £325. It has many different settings which you didn't seem mention including reflex, a timer display, premium build quality, UK made and great customer service so I'm not sure your verdict is completely accurate. Enjoying the vids though nice one 🙂
Hi Rob, great ebike channel. I have the ms 8000s and its superb. At full brightness it lasts about 1,5 h and at 50% it lasts abaout 3h and 15min. Even at the lowest output the light is good. I usaly use 50% output, but when i ride downhill I use 75% output. 100% output is some times too much:)
I don`t feel the nead fore a helmet mount light anny more!
But i misses some side visability lightning fore transport riding .
Since I innvested in an ebike that costs . . . . .€, a 350€ light investment is worth it. Then I can ride the bike 365 days a year :)
( I sometimes wishes a little bit more in depth reviews of the products you preferred)
Enjoy your ebike riding , and keep up with great e bike videos
One thing I wish people using these mega bright lights would be a bit better about dipping them for oncoming traffic. My off-road activities are mostly limited to fair-weather and daylight, I certainly see the appeal of having a big light for getting out on the trails at night, but when I ride on roads at night (with a not particularly bright light, but fine for being able to see on-road while letting eyes be somewhat adjusted to see stars etc as well) I don’t appreciate being blinded by MTB riders. Maybe turn down the power in general when you’re not actually on the trail, and definitely when there are other people oncoming.
Another great review. I liked the fact that you didn’t make it too forensic. That said, from my experience a decent light on the bars combined with a helmet light is best for a few of reasons. Two lights give what you’re looking at a 3 dimensional look so you can judge distances, a bar light only means you may miss what is ahead with sharp turns or drop offs, if you get to a gate then not having a helmet light can make it hard to deal with. But ultimately night riding is special and a different experience everyone should try + that £26 light is good enough to get started.
For sure! Always use a helmet light for ultimate night riding experience ⚡️⚡️😃😃
I commute along a dirt track all winter and was using a specialized flux expert light for dipped beam I picked up 2nd hand, not a bad light but wanted to augment it with a decent main beam. Ended up buying a £30 xhp7.2 based torch and making a simple bracket to attach it to an existing handlebar mount. Works really well, I'm sure it's not as good as a £260 light but it's a lot of light output for the money and has decent battery life
Great review. I bought a Magicshine Monteer 8000 a while back and the brightness is unreal, but i've since paired it with a Magicshine RN3000 on the helmet. It's expensive, can be a bit of a faff strapping it to the bike each time and the bracket isn't great for attaching to the bars (mine came loose on the second ride). The helmet light is pretty heavy too, so needs a little extra tightening on the rear helmet adjuster, but I can ride flat out at night and see all the wildlife making the spooky noises, so it's well worth it to me. I had considered the Exposure lights, but now I think I made the right decision.
I have the same setup on my Spesialized and I love it :-)
Great video! I really don't think the Exposures are beatable.Even though this video leans more toward the magic shine light.. The exposure has reflex technology which is insane as it drops the lumens at slower speeds! I run an Exposure Toro on my bar and an Exposure Diablo on my helmet. Plenty of light for the techiest of tracks!
A big thumbs up from me on this set up (Toro and Diablo) plenty good enough for me and Exposure is great quality with excellent back up and reasonable repair costs.
Agreed! I have the six pack and diablo… amazing lights. I also have bontrager ion pro rt which is great for rail trails but the exposure lights imo are too notch best in the industry. Maybe not best spread beam but more than adequate for any trail.
Exposures are over priced for a basic beam pattern (round, not shaped)
Not hard to find a cheap light with same crappy pattern.
Gotta lol at the people claiming you can’t beat Exposure. Yes you can, I’ve just watched a vid were one was absolutely trounced by a much cheaper light.
@@Howling-Mad-Murdock its about the same as any night rider light..and they're over priced at 80-120
Infun GT 200 , novsight 1600 and xhp70 are 3 lights that are better at 50 abd under
Nice and useful video. I used to use 2 very cheap lights (like the amazon one) ...after a while the batteries would only last an hour at the very most but with having one as a spare worked fine. However the fitting wasn't great, it often moved and the battery cable could be pulled out by accident. Still they did the job ...and I've had more expensive less reliable lights ...and with poor mounts. I now use a Cateye Volt 1300 (paid around £70 a few years back) or a halfords Lumin 'something or other' (£40ish) and these both work very well, reasonably bright and reliably last for a 1 1/2 hour night ride along unlit bridleways/tracks. I don't do totally off-piste stuff so in my case wouldn't really benefit for something really expensive.
Thanks Rob. great comparison test. and thanks for the 10% code just ordered the monteer and saved £29,
Great video! Would love to see some durability factor tests in the future like battery life, water, dust and shock resistance etc.
More good news - the Magic is rechargeable from a solar panel. Would have been good to know how long at full beam and also, can it be switched between different intensity levels. Off to Google to do the extra info legwork, I guess but yeah. I agree Rob. The Magic is seriously impressive.
Great video Rob and really informative.
Cheers Jay!
@@RobRidesEMTB the effort and production involved to bring us this great content would put some tv companies to shame. Keep up the great work 👌🏻
Interesting comparison, Rob, but you didn't mention what mode you had the Exposure light in. That light will only deliver its brightest beam of 5000 lumens in Reflex mode, otherwise 3600 is the max. The ability to program the Exposure is also one of its strengths, it can automatically adjust the brightness to save battery when you're not bombing downhill. To ride properly at night you really need a helmet light too, so the smaller spread of the Exposure compared to the Magicshine is less of an issue. You're wanting to light up the trail in front of you, not the whole forest. Burn time is also a factor to consider when buying.
Completely agree - reliability is also a major issue. Magicshine were great value for money, until you get through 3 in 2 years. Bought the Exposure 6 pack 4 years ago and never looked back, its amazing
Great review, with the added bonus of not being one of the masses who place Exposure lights first because they’re mega expensive and trendy. Exposure has great after sales support but call me old fashioned, I kind of want a light that is made works well, not one that is easy to send off, wait for a replacement if it breaks down (not that they do very often to be fair).
The internal battery is good aesthetically, but it renders your light useless when it fails, the external battery gives more options for replacement and/or temp replacements/extras too (with the weight stored away from the turning mass)
Didn't realise exposure lights were trendy ? Bought mine years ago and they've lasted well.
Hi Rob I have been debating the magjicshine 8000 monster for a while now. The video and the discount code have confirmed my decision - purchased - and thanks for the discount.
I bought a cheap light from ebay, similar to the one from amazon, and then added a fresnell-lens, that took care of the spread. Big improvement.
Great video as usual Rob. Love the channel. 👍🤙
Rob, you had a strong review of the lights, but the aspect that is missing is the difference between a road light and a mtb light. The spread is actually detrimental on road lights, especially when passing cars coming in the other direction. Whereas, on the mtb, the spread allows for greater visual range for the multiple corners and objects. The difference is the spot light effect that you want for the road bike, versus the spread needed for the woods. But as you said, the review was "for you" not roadies like me. I actually like (and bought) the cheap light because it better suited my need for a front spot light and it was cheap. I don't need to see 1/2 a mile ahead so the brighter lenses would be overkill. Again, great review! But, the 3 "losing" products reviewed were generally for road use.
I was going to comment that anyone Rob meets on the trail with that "mega" light, is going to hate him for life.
Edit: It would have been fun just to see him light up all those lights at the same time, though! 😎
Isn’t this an mtb channel(?), so think this review is very much fit for purpose.
My priority on road versus mtb is that on road I want to be seen, whereas mtb I want to see. I just run an old Hope R1 on the lowest setting for road and then bump it up if I need to see on any unlit roads or trails.
@@danselas My point was that if this is a MTB channel, would it not be prudent to review mtb lights (with the purposeful spread)? The winning light didn't win because it was brightest. it won because it better suited the need of a mtn biker. Its like putting apples in the best orange competition and expecting an upset. Rob's review of the capabilities was spot on. But the items reviewed had less specialties.
The benefits of a separate battery, is the light by it self doesn't shift or move when riding over ruff trails. I have just bought the magic shine light. I had it out for the first time last night. Definitely not disappointed. It all so has different light settings. It will, also work well as a road light with out blinding the on coming traffic. The only beef I have is, the one button has to do all the settings and it will take me alittle longer to get use to it.
Good video. You should try Glow worm. Triple bar light 2800 lumens, double head light 1750 lumens. So easy to operate, one press for on, one press to change intensity, 3 levels. Great lightweight strong mounting brackets. Fast charging & compact. Just above average price.
Hey Rob, nice video that realy shows the difference between cheap lights and propperly buildt pricy lights. But you need to test the Lupine series lights, which are superbly buildt and give superb lighting. Been riding with a Lupine Betty for a couple of years and its been such funn. Lupine also comes with a bluetooth remote to set up different light settings, that allows you to dim the beam should you meet ramblers or other cyclists.
Lupine will also repair your lights if you have a fault, recycle batteries at the end of their life and offer upgraded light boards for older models , so they really are the ‘sustainable’ choice. They also have a massive range of mounting solutions and batteries so you can use the same light for multiple uses
Great video, I have the cheapo light and have just bought the 906se and I completely agree with your comments. I do feel a little disappointed that the 906se wasn't a bigger improvement, but it's still better and safer than the cheapo.
A point to consider is the cost of getting the bosch dealer to unlock the light setting (£15) and also you will lose a little battery capacity as the system has to make a reserve so there is alway power for the lights. Well that's what I was told anyway, I'm yet to find out if this is correct, maybe someone can confirm?
I just ordered a 1000 lumen (1150 lumen measured) Bosch compatible light kit for less than for €100. The 2000 lumen version isn't compatible with the Bosch CX Gen 4 motor. The light uses 12 Watts at the full lumen setting. But you can select 400 or 100 lumen too. A 625 Wh battery should be able to power the light at 400 lumen (5 Watts) for 125 hours.
Currently what I’m after is a system where all the lights you have on your bike are connected to 1 battery, the front / rear / flashing type.
I have no problem with them being wired, I just want to worry about charging 1 battery and a couple of helmet batteries.
Great video.
I've ridden Surrey hills with the exposure sixpack, it lit the place up, even the rider In front benefitted from the light.
I must say though that magicshine looks impressive, I need to try it out.
Hi Rob, very interesting comparison, but having experienced the Amazon and the Exposur, I would say battery is as important as light. Amazon is ok, but battery tech is old and it has "memory" so it is very easy to ruin your battery life by charging half way. I have also tried the Exposure and it is a very good product, with one added feature : a timer on battery left, so you know exactly how much time is left at each mode, something extremely useful when you go out for a long ride at night. I would go for the exposure just because of that feature.
Hello Rob. nice video. thank you!!, I think you forgot to mention the magicShine MJ906S when connected to the battery pack can give 4500Lumens, I have that light and when I connect to my specialized Kenevo I can only put in mid power( I think around 1200L / 1800L), but with the battery pack I can use in full power mode 4500L. :). cheers and keep up the good work 🙏🙏🙏
Thanks alot Rob, greatly appreciate you doing such..👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Just had the MagicShine 6500 zeus delivered, and shone it in the garden! its more powerful than the 50W LED security light i've got! cant wait to go out with it on!
That space you have created looks excellent, great video too thanks
I have a cheap bike light for urban commuting and they work great. I've gone out for nearly two hours on full brightness and had some juice left using the Wastou small bar mount light. Ignore their wild lumen claims, lol. But for $30CDN, they're a steal for what you get. For trail riding, it's not enough light, but for city paths, works great.
I've used wasaga, Monteer 6500, and now I'm using Magic Shine's MOH55 and MJ906S together. Wasaga is similar to MJ906S at first, but after about three months of use, the brightness decreases. The Monte 6500 is so hot that it is not in use now. I am using MOH55 for handlebar and MJ906S for helmet, and I am very satisfied.
Hey Rob Rides Emtb! What an illuminating video! Did you do any run time tests for the units that aren't wired to the ebike? Ride ride ride!
You really chose the worst possible ali express light to make your point. This one has very small battery that can't drive the 5 hungry Cree T6 LEDs. And the power management board on this light is awful, the light changes A LOT when the voltage drops. And with this battery it drops, a lot! Actually a single diode light would fare better in this test (yes, I have both, plus 3-4 more ali lights). I agree that cramming 5 diodes in such a small place leads to very little reflector space. And you get a tiny bright spot and no flood. But this applies to the other lights too. With proper driver and the battery of the magicshine, it would produce the 5x1200=6000 theoretical lumens, so the number is not that far off. But still it would be a throw light, not a flood light that you need for your handlebars.
I have a similar light, in a similar body but with a single, more powerful Cree XHP70 diode. It costs $35 without a battery but outshines the 10 diode exposure my friend has. And I bought a $20 battery case with replaceable cells, and I can bring as many spare cells as I need for the whole night riding, and go 100% all the time. Which I did for the 24h MTB race that I recently participated. And had the brightest light during the whole night
I have Mounteer 6500S for half a year and I just love it. Paired with 1200 lumens helmet light from Magicshine is great.
That's a great test video - well done 👍
The Magicshine is clearly far superior to the Exposure - I'm really surprised. A friend of mine has the Exposure so I now have a mickey taking opportunity 😂 - I on the other hand ride round with a cheapo version - which only has 3 LEDs not 5 🤦♂ - I always thought his Exposure was fantastic - but the Magicshine is almost like daylight!!
excellent mate ive always used cheeper amazon ones with a head light also, been good enough so far, but the magicshine looked very impressive .
I've had cheap lights for years and went 6500 and wouldn't look back now. It really is day and night difference and on an EMTB going fast in the woods well worth it
I’ve just taken up night riding this year and love it. I’d really like to upgrade the built on light on the front of my Specialized Ebike for minimum hassle. Must speak to my dealer and see what can be done.
Waterproofness is a big concern for me. Thanks for the comparison.
State side of the pond here.
In 2015 I bought two of the cheap type at $24 each. Cree one 1200lm LED and one diffuser lens. Powered by a water tight plastic box holding 6 18640 batteries a Y cable to feed both lights. Still seems satisfactory.
For in town a quality one inch diameter flashlight/torch is bar mounted in a Wuben bar bracket..
I ride paved bike trails not the woods. Most of my Country is still lost in the woods..
Cheers!!
I hope to buy a bicycle light that is just right, if the light is too bright, it will illuminate other people's eyes, and if it is too dark, the road conditions will be bad.
My trail lights cost me £135. Three lights all made by Cateye. An Ammp 800 sits on the right aimed ahead, an ammp 500 on the left aimed to light the trail closer to the bike and a Volt 400 sits on my helmet. With just those three lights I can ride like it's daylight. USB rechargeable and water resistant all round. The Volt also has an integrated 25 lumen rear light making it ideal for riding back from the trails.
Fair comparison of the lights initial performance but it’s more about long term reliability. I’ve had numerous cheap lights including magic shine and they just don’t last. Moved to exposure a few years ago and still going strong
False economy buying cheap…buy twice…or more
Have an ebuy fire off Aliexpress and been using 2 yrs. Brilliant light only downside is take a long time to charge. Plus rechargeable batteries are replaceable. Excellent quality and performance
Been content with a $60 Fenix BC21R for years. Great torch (except risk to tilt forward on hard bumps). Thought $200 for a light is madness.
One year ago discovered the Lupine SL X with that design that screamed P E R F E C T I O N. Daytime running lights, glare-free low beam, and high beam by remote control like daaaaayumm not just an overpriced flashlight. But $400 for a light without battery scared me off.
Fast forward one year of contemplating alternatives and now I'm waiting for a $300 deal on one. Bike upgrades is too much fun xD
I run the magicshine 6500 on my bar and a 920 magicshine on lid, and I can ride the whole of the Wall at Afan at full power with no issues. The light they give off are phenomenal, I don't think you can beat them. Great content again Rob👍👍
Watching this video made me consider the magicshine over exposure but then saw the weight difference! The exposure is over 500g lighter as well as being a neat package.
I'm still using an original Magicshine Cree knock-off that I bought for £9.99 over 10 years ago. I put one of those Fresnel lenses on it which cost an additional fiver but it's bright enough that people often comment.
I think the people who rate the expensive lights are those who have already bought them and need some validation of their choice.
Not all lights are road legal depending , what you traffic laws are especially in these hi powered lights , when you face on coming traffic . most cycling lights are required to have some sort of light showing from the side , so you can be seen from the side by Cars or other cyclist's .
I would advise anyone using trail lights like these unless marked as road legal to have a 2nd Light on there bike or helmut.
I am not sure what the current UK laws are on street legal cycling lights but since I have been living in Germany for 12 years and sure you have these super Hi-powered lights here after all there are a lot of woods here , but most packaging states if a light meets the required road laws for public roads .
This is something I have to keep in mind when looking for new lights to save getting a fine later down the line .
But a great video again proving that just because it is the most expensive it will be the best .
thanks.
Some are definitely overkill (and can cause eye fatigue). You are not filming a movie scene; you just want to see what's in front and where your wheels will run into
I've found that having your helmet light tinted yellow helps heaps! The bright white is great if you're in front. Also, that Amazon cheapo is the old 'StupidBright 1200 Lumen'. I have one myself, for sure not 6000L. 😂
Owned the magic shine for a year now. Had to do a warrenty claim on the battery. Very very powerful as you see, 2hrs max run time on full power and its something like 2 days run time on low setting. It now c9mes with a Bluetooth controller. I would recommend
Very good. Ordered the Monteer 8000 bar light and 3500 helmet light in Halloween sale at weekend
I currently have an Aldi rechargeable bike light set that cost me £14.99 it does the job just fine and will easily allow you to go off roading in near zero light conditions. Prior to that I had one of the Cree x2 V shaped that come with a 18650 battery pack (4000mah iirc, 8.4 volts) I feel like that was pretty bright for what it cost but the spread wasn’t amazing.